Traditional Chinese medicine-derived carbon dots: A new horizon in green nanotheranostics

Bridging the inherent bioactivity of botanical precursors with the tunable physicochemical properties of nanoscale particles, traditional Chinese medicine-derived carbon dots (TCM-CDs) have emerged as a promising innovative platform in sustainable nanotheranostics. Synthesized via eco-friendly routes such as hydrothermal or microwave-assisted carbonization, these nanomaterials exhibit “pharmacological inheritance,” a notable phenomenon wherein bioactive moieties from precursors (e.g., polyphenols, alkaloids, and polysaccharides) are partially retained or structurally transformed, contributing to their observed therapeutic activities. By combining structural features including ultrasmall size (<10 nm) and tunable optical properties with intrinsic bioactivity, TCM-CDs show promising preclinical potential in imaging-guided therapy, anti-inflammation, oncology, hemostasis, and tissue regeneration. Despite this considerable preclinical promise, the transition of TCM-CDs from bench to bedside remains impeded by critical bottlenecks, including batch-to-batch heterogeneity, lack of standardized quality control (QC) protocols, suboptimal delivery precision, and incomplete understanding of their long-term biosafety and underlying molecular mechanisms. Herein, we systematically review the latest advancements in the synthesis, purification, and biomedical applications of TCM-CDs. To facilitate future clinical translation, we highlight that integrating multi-omics technologies with precisely controlled manufacturing processes represents a critical path toward advancing the next generation of herbal-derived nanomedicines.